Rashid Latif appointed as wicketkeeping coach

Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan keeper, has been appointed as wicketkeeping coach by the Pakistan board for three years to nurture and groom young talent in the country. Latif, was released by Port Qasim Authority, the organisation where he works as Head of Sports, to take on his new role.

"My objective is to transfer my knowledge in grooming and preparing young wicketkeepers and lift the overall standard of the keepers in domestic circuit," Latif said. "My job is to make the wicketkeepers a strong department for the country." Though he was first picked in the Pakistan side on the strength of his batting, Latif kept wickets in all his outings. He is second on Pakistan's list of ODI dismissals - with 220 from 166 matches, while Moin Khan has 287 from 219 games.

"Wicketkeeping is a difficult job," Latif said. "A mentally and physically tough and slim player can be a good wicketkeeper." He conducted training camps for the country's top wicketkeepers - Kamram Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Salman - and for the Pakistan Under-16 side that toured West Indies.

Latif will leave for England today to play club cricket and to train keepers there.